Background & Aims: Prolonged standing in static posture during occupational tasks has been associated with low back pain (LBP). Increased bilateral gluteus medius (GM) muscles co-activation is considered to be the most predisposing factor for LBP development during prolonged standing in asymptomatic individual. Change and modify flooring in occupational environment is common ergonomic intervention to alleviate problems caused by prolonged standing such as LBP. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of anti-fatigue floor mat on bilateral GM co-activation pattern and subjective pain in the low back.

  Materials & Methods: The study was conducted on 16 asymptomatic participants while they were doing simulated light occupational tasks in two conditions for two hours as follows: 1) standing on a hard floor, 2) standing on an anti-fatigue floor mat. In any standing condition, at the beginning of standing and every 15 minutes until 120 minutes, muscle co-activation of bilateral GM and subjective pain in the low back region has been collected respectively by surface electromyography (EMG) and visual analog scale (VAS).

  Results: There were no significant difference in bilateral GM co-activation pattern in participants between two conditions (P=0.776), but anti-fatigue floor mat presented a significantly decreased level of subjective pain in the low back. Although 73% of participants were indicating that they would use the anti-fatigue mat if they were in an occupational setting that required prolonged standing work, but results about the effect of anti-fatigue floor mat on LBP based on an increase of >10mm on VAS threshold indicated that this intervention has no significant effect on decreased LBP development and co-activation of bilateral GM muscles in both pain developer and non pain developer groups.

  Conclusion: Apparently anti-fatigue mat were useful in decreasing LBP, although objectively it did not have any significant changes in muscle activity patterns that associated with LBP.

  SOURCE: URMIA MED J 2014: 24(12): 955 ISSN: 1027-3727